Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town (must see)

The Castle of Good Hope is also known as The Castle or Cape Town Castle. The Castle is a stone fort in the shape of a pentagram and is the oldest existing structure in Cape Town. The Dutch East India Company built it between 1666 and 1679. The Dutch had established a settlement here to serve as a supply stop for the Dutch East India Company as it sailed between the Netherlands and Indonesia, which was then known as the East Indies.

When rumors of war between England and the Netherlands circulated, the Dutch East India Company decided to build a fortress to protect this strategic location.

The gated entry replaced the old entrance in 1682. A bell tower was added in 1684. The Castle originally overlooked Table Bay. After a land reclamation effort, it is now further inland.

Part of The Castle was used as a prison during the Second Boer War, and the cells remain to this day. The Castle is a provincial heritage site and is known as the best-preserved Dutch East India Fort.

Complete guided tours of the fort are available. Visitors can attend a Key Ceremony and the popular canon firing. The Castle is also home to three museums, a gift shop, and a restaurant.

Why You Should Visit:
The guided tour is informative and funny and will end up as one of the highlights of your visit to Cape Town.
The views of the city and Table Mountain from the (walkable) ramparts are very good.

Tip:
The changing of the guard doesn't rival Buckingham Palace but as a side treat, there's a cannon firing on the hour at 11:00/12:00. Please note: Key Ceremony runs Mon–Fri and Cannon Firing does not take place on Sundays. These ceremonies are also weather dependent.